Joe Cuba Sextet – Bustin' Out (1972)

Whereas Joe Cuba’s 60s output was prolific to the point of flooding the market with boogaloo, his releases in the 1970s were spaced pretty far apart. This one catches the Sextet somewhere between their 60s sound and a new sensibility taking cues from Eddie Palmieri and the Harlem River Drive band. The single from the album was Pud-Da-Din b/w Ooh! Ya, and the track “Do You Feel It” with its almost-social-commentary-rap has made it to a few Latin soul compilations. While the shorter cuts are certainly groovy and all, my favorite on this is Joe Cuba’s Madness Parts 1 & 2 (actually separated by silence, presumably for another 7-inch release). Instrumental jamming co-authored with Charlie Palmieri, Cuba’s long-time musical director.